Social media marketplace

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems are provided for facilitating shopping for products that have been liked to a social media network. A product can be seen on a merchant&#39;s website, for example. The product can be liked by user to the social media website. When the same or a different user subsequently sees the liked product on the social media website, the same or different user can purchase the product from the social media website. Thus, the user is not required to visit the merchant&#39;s website to perform the purchase transaction. Upon completion of the purchase, the user can be allowed to leave feedback to rate the item according to a predefined scale, which can be visible to all those who view the item, as exhibited by a vendor on the social media platform.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to electronic commerce and,more particularly, relates to methods and systems for facilitating sellsof products via social media platforms and the like.

Related Art

Social media have become very popular. Social media are typicallyaccessed via the Internet and include websites that facilitateinteractions among people. The people can share information amongmembers of virtual communities. The information can relate to anydesired topics. For example, people can share experiences and ideasregarding food, travel, religion, cars, music, movies, hobbies, orscience via social media websites.

Common social media websites include FaceBook, Twitter, Linkedln,Pinterest, MySpace, LiveJournal, Tagged, and Orkut. There are many othersocial medial websites. Some social media websites are general interestwebsites and some social media websites are for members that share aparticular interest.

Merchants often provide links to social media websites. Social mediawebsite members can “like” products of the merchants to their socialmedia website to indicate to others that they enjoy or like theproducts. Such liking of a product provides an indication of the user'sapproval, e.g., a recommendation of the product, on the social mediawebsite where other members can view the recommendation. The merchantsbelieve that such liking provides effective advertising for theirproducts. That is, the merchants expect that other social media websitemembers will see that such products have been liked by a member and willthen purchase the products.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for providing a social mediamarketplace, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a method for providing a social mediamarketplace, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing further detail of the method forproviding a social media marketplace, according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example of a computer that is suitablefor use in the system for providing a social media marketplace,according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to an embodiment, a user can “like”, shop, and leave feedbackfor a product. As those familiar with social media will appreciate,liking a product is a process whereby a user sees a product that theuser wants and/or wants to recommend to others. The user selects theproduct so that the product can be displayed on a social media websitefor the others to see and potentially purchase and/or leave feedbackregarding. The product can be liked to a social media website, to apayment provider website, or to any other suitable type of website.

According to an embodiment, the liking, purchasing, and leaving offeedback can all be done conveniently from a single app, such that amerchant's likelihood of completing a sale is substantially enhanced.For example, the app can be an app of the social media website, an appof a payment provider, or an app of both the social media website andthe payment provider. That is, the payment provider and the social mediawebsite can cooperate to provide the app. For example, a merchant andthe user can both participate in a payment provider/social media websiteapp. The app can be executed on a mobile device of the user. The app canbe executed on any suitable device of the user, e.g., a desktopcomputer, smart phone, or computing tablet. With the app, the user canlike the product to the social media website, access the social mediawebsite, view feedback regarding the product, purchase the productand/or leave feedback regarding the product. The like can be stored on apayment provider app center of the social media website. The like can bestored at any desired location on any desired website. The user canlater navigate to the app center or other website to view likedproducts. The liked products can be displayed, such as via icons, at theapp center. The user can select a liked product and use the PayPal BuyNow feature, for example, to purchase the liked product. Thus, the usercan select to Buy Now from the user's previously stored likes and canalso see how many other users have left feedback for the same product.

In this manner, casual website visits can be converted into purchases.For example, a user who sees a product that the user would like topurchase on a website of the merchant can like the product to the user'ssocial media website. Liking the product can initiate the app, such asin a mobile device with which the user is viewing the merchant'swebsite. Alternatively, the user can initiate the app, such as byclicking on or tapping an icon on a screen of a computer or a mobiledevice.

The app can provide the user with an opportunity to purchase theproduct. Any incentives that the merchant offers can be communicated tothe user via the app to encourage the user to purchase the product. Byproviding the user with the opportunity to conveniently purchase theitem at the time that the user likes the item, the likelihood of themerchant making a sale is substantially enhanced. The user can beprovided the opportunity to purchase the product at the time that theproduct is liked and/or at a later time, such as when the user isviewing the product on the social media website.

According to one or more embodiments, methods and systems are providedfor facilitating shopping for products that have been liked to a socialmedia network. The products can be purchased directly from the socialmedia website. As discussed above, liking a product is comparable toproviding a recommendation for the product.

A product can be seen on a merchant's website, for example. The productcan be liked by user to the user's social media website. When the sameor a different user subsequently sees the liked product on the socialmedia website, the same or different user can purchase the product fromthe social media website.

The same or different user can purchase the product directly from thesocial media website. Thus, the user is not required to visit themerchant's website to perform the purchase transaction. According to anembodiment, the user is not required to visit any other website toperform the purchase transaction. By making such online purchases easierand more convenient for the user, the sales of products for the merchantcan be desirably enhanced.

Even though the user is not required to visit any other website, theapp, the social media website, or some other device, program, company,or entity can cooperate with one or more other websites to perform thepurchase transaction. For example, the social media website cancooperate with the payment provider and/or the merchant website toperform the purchase transaction. However, such cooperation can bebehind the scenes with respect to the user and can thus effectively beinvisible to the user.

The products can be purchased from the social media website, i.e.,without the user having to go explicitly to the merchant's website. Thepurchase transaction can be processed entirely within the social mediawebsite. The purchase transaction can be process partially within thesocial media website and partially within another entity, such as apayment provider website or the merchant website. The purchasetransaction can be processed within the merchant website. The purchasetransaction can be processed within any combination of websites andother entities. For example, the purchase transaction can be processedby any combination of the social media website, the payment provider, abank, a credit card company, a payment processor, the merchant, and/orany other entity.

Regardless of where the purchase transaction is processed, the user canremain within the social media website. Thus, the user is spared thetrouble and inconvenience of having to leave the social media website togo to the merchant's website. Of course, the more convenient it is for apotential customer to make a purchase, the more likely it is that thepotential customer will actually make the purchase. Thus, according toone or more embodiments, merchants may increase their sales.

According to contemporary practice, a user who sees a liked item on asocial media website must leave the social media website to purchase theitem. However, the user may be reluctant to leave the social mediawebsite. The user may prefer to remain within the social media websiteto perform the function that attracted the user to the social mediawebsite in the first place. For example, the user may prefer to proceedto viewing another friends latest updates on the social media website.Thus, the user can easily be distracted from the liked product that theuser is otherwise ready to purchase. The user may forget altogetherabout the product. The user may see and purchase a competing product.Thus, it is beneficial to capture the purchase when user is ready tomake the purchase, but is reluctant to do so by leaving the social mediawebsite.

According to an embodiment, a system can comprise one or more memoriesstoring information of a social media website. One or more hardwareprocessors can be in communication with the one or more memories and canreceive a first communication from a first user device to the socialmedia website that is indicative that a first user likes a product of amerchant. The one or more hardware processors can store informationassociated with the first user liking (e.g., a like) for the product inthe one or more memories and can display the like for the product on thesocial media website. The one or more hardware processors can receive asecond communication from a second user device to the social mediawebsite that is indicative that a second user desires to purchase theproduct from the merchant The one or more hardware processors canprocess a purchase transaction for the user to purchase the product fromthe merchant.

The first communication can be provided via an app of the first userdevice. The app can be an app of a payment provider and a social mediawebsite, such that aspects of the social media marketplace are morereadily practiced. For example, such an app can more readily coordinatecooperation between the payment provider and the social media website toprocess purchase transactions, as disclosed herein.

The social media website can provide the Buy Now feature thatfacilitates purchase of the product by the user from within the socialmedia website. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, such a BuyNow feature can comprise an icon that the user can select to initiate apurchase transaction for a selected product. Thus, by clicking on theBuy Now icon, for example, the user can be presented with payment andshipping choices for the purchase.

The app can provide the Buy Now feature that facilitates purchase of theproduct by the user via the mobile device, such as without visiting anywebsite. The app can maintain a database of product liked by the user.The user can use the Buy Now feature to purchase any such items. The appcan cooperate with the social media website, the merchant website, thepayment provider website, and/or any other company, device, program orentity to process the purchase. The app can similarly facilitate thepurchase of products that have been liked by others, such as others whohave been specified by the user. The app can similarly facilitate thepurchase of products that have been liked by friends of the user, suchas friends of the user who are defined outside of the app, such as onthe social media website. The app can obtain a list of such friends fromthe social media website, for example.

In this manner, the user can purchase previously liked product withouthaving to explicitly visit any websites. Any cooperation between the appand any websites can be behind the scenes and effectively invisible tothe user.

The first communication includes information regarding the product andthe information can be provided by a website of the merchant. Thus,information regarding the product can be provided to the social mediawebsite when the user likes the product to the social media website.This information can be displayed by the social media website. Forexample, information regarding the product, such as product features andpricing, can be displayed when a user move a cursor over the product onthe social media website. Alternatively, the product and the informationcan be taken from an email of the merchant

The product information can be provided to the social media website fromany source or combination of sources. After the product has been likedto the social media website, the social media website, the merchantwebsite, the payment provider website, or any other entity can obtainfurther information regarding the product and can provide this furtherinformation to the social media website.

The first user device and the second user device can be the same userdevice. The same user or different users can user the same device tolike the product and to purchase the product. Thus, the first user andthe second user can be the same user. Generally, one user can like theproduct to the social media website and any number of users, includingthe user who liked the product, can purchase the product via the socialmedia website.

The one or more hardware processors and the one or more memories can beprocessors and memories of a server. For example, the one or morehardware processors and the one or more memories can be processors andmemories of the payment processor, the social media website, or anyother entity.

According to an embodiment, a method can comprise storing, in one ormore memories, information of a social media website. The method cancomprise receiving, via one or more hardware processors, a firstcommunication from a first user device to the social media websiteindicative that a first user likes a product of a merchant; storing, viathe one or more hardware processors, a like for the product in the oneor more memories; displaying, via the one or more hardware processors,the like for the product on the social media website; and receiving, viathe one or more hardware processors, a second communication from asecond user device to the social media website indicative that a seconduser desires to purchase the product from the merchant. The method cancomprise processing, via the one or more hardware processors, a purchasetransaction for the user to purchase the product from the merchant.

According to an embodiment, the one or more hardware processors can beconfigured to facilitate leaving feedback, e.g., rating the product on apredefined scale (such as a scale of 1-10) which is then displayed toall who view the item on the social media platform from the particularvendor.

According to an embodiment, a computer program product can comprise anon-transitory computer readable medium. The non-transitory computerreadable medium can have computer readable and executable code forinstructing one or more processors to perform any of the methodsdisclosed herein.

According to an embodiment, direct purchases can be made using a paymentprovider, such as PayPal. Publicly visible feedback can be left by thepurchaser regarding the purchased products. Thus, various forms ofonline selling can be extended to various forms of social media.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system for providing a social mediamarketplace, according to an embodiment. The syste m can include asocial media website server 100, a merchant website server 110, a userdevice 120, and/or a payment provider server 130. The functionsdiscussed herein can be split and/or shared among social media websiteserver 100, the merchant website server 110, the mobile device 120,and/or the payment provider server 130, as desired.

The social media website server 100 can comprise a processor 101 and amemory 102. The memory 102 can be in communication with the processor101. The social media website server 100 can provide a social mediawebsite via the Internet, for example.

The merchant website server 110 can comprise a memory 111 and aprocessor 112. The memory 111 can be in communication with the processor112. The merchant website server 110 can provide a merchant website viathe Internet, for example. A app 113 can be stored in the memory 111.The app 113 can be executed by the processor 112 and/or communicated tothe user device 120.

The user device 120 can comprise a processor 121, a memory 122, and aglobal positioning system (GPS) 123. The user device 120 can comprise acomputer, such as a desktop computer. The user device 120 can comprise amobile device and can comprise carried by the user. The user device 120can comprise a cellular telephone, a smart telephone, a hand heldcomputer, a laptop computer, a notebook computer, or a tablet computer,for example. The user device 120 can be used for routine telephonecalls, text messaging, web browsing, and the like.

An app 124 can be stored in the memory 122 and can be executed by theprocessor 121. The app 124 can be substantially the same as the app 113.The app 113 and/or the app 124 can be used for facilitating the socialmedia marketplace, according to an embodiment. The app 124 can be storedelsewhere, such as on the social media website server 100, the merchantwebsite server 110, and/or the payment provider website 130. The app 124can be stored and executed from any desire location or combination oflocations.

The GPS 123 can be used to provide location information that can be usedto facilitate the social media marketplace, according to an embodiment.For example, the GPS 123 can provide a location of the user during apurchase transaction. The location of the user can be used to determinea brick and mortar store, warehouse, or other facility from which theuser can will call or pick up a purchased product. As a further example,the GPS 123 can be used inform friends of the user regarding the user'slocation when any products are liked or purchased by the user.

The location of the user can be used, at least in part, to verify orauthorize the purchase transaction. For example, the user can specify,such as during a set up process, that purchases can only be made whenthe user device is within pre-specified boundaries (such as within acity, region, state, or country). In this manner, fraudulent orillegitimate transactions and/or social media entries and the like canbe mitigated.

The payment provider server 130 can comprise a server of a paymentprovider, such as Paypal, Inc. The payment provider server 130 can be asingle server or can be a plurality of servers. The payment providerserver 130 can include one or more processors 131 and a memory 132. Thememory 132 can be a memory of the payment provider server 130 or amemory that is associated with the payment provider server 130. Thememory 132 can be a distributed memory. The memory 132 can store a useraccount 133 and a merchant account 134. The payment provider server 130can be used to facilitate purchase transactions, as disclosed herein.

Generally, the social media website server 100, the merchant websiteserver 110, the user device 120, and the payment provider server 130 canperform functions discussed herein. That is, at least to some extent, afunction that is discussed herein as being performed via one of thesedevices can be performed by a different one of these devices or by acombination of these devices.

The merchant website server 110, the user device 120, and the paymentprovider server 130 can communicate with one another via a network, suchas the Internet 140. The merchant website server 110, the user device120, and the payment provider server 130 can communicate with oneanother via one or more networks, such as local area networks (LANs),wide area networks (WANs), cellular telephone networks, and the like.The merchant website server 110, the user device 120, the social network150, and the payment provider server 130 can communicate with oneanother, at least partially, via one or more near field communications(NFC) methods or other short range communications methods, such asinfrared (IR), Bluetooth, WiFi, and WiMax.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a network-based system forimplementing one or more processes described herein. As shown, thenetwork-based system may comprise or implement a plurality of serversand/or software components that operate to perform various methodologiesin accordance with the described embodiments. Exemplary servers mayinclude, for example, stand-alone and enterprise-class servers operatinga server OS such as a MICROSOFT® OS, a UNIX® OS, a LINUX® OS, or anothersuitable server-based OS. It can be appreciated that the serversillustrated in FIG. 1 may be deployed in other ways and that theoperations performed and/or the services provided by such servers may becombined or separated for a given implementation and may be performed bya greater number or fewer number of servers. One or more servers may beoperated and/or maintained by the same or different entities.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are flow charts that describe examples of operation of thesocial media marketplace according to embodiments thereof. Note that oneor more of the steps described herein may be combined, omitted, orperformed in a different order, as desired or appropriate.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a method for providing a social mediamarketplace, according to an embodiment. A user can visit a merchant'swebsite and can view information regarding a product that the userlikes, as shown in step 201. The information can be an advertisement forthe product. The website can be viewed on the user device 120, forexample. The user can alternatively receive an email, text message, orotherwise electronically receive the information regarding the product.

In response to viewing the information regarding the product, the usercan like the product to the social media website 100, as shown in step202. The user can like the product to one social media website or theuser can like the product to a plurality of social media websites. Theuser can like the product to any number of social media websites and/orto any number of other websites.

Subsequently, the user can view the liked product on the social mediawebsite, as shown in step 203. Either the same user or a different usercan view the social media website. The social media website can beviewed with either the same user device 120 or a different user device120. Any number of users can view the liked product on the social medianwebsite or other website.

The user can view feedback regarding the product on the social mediawebsite, as shown in step 204. The feedback can include a number ofstars to indicate how much the product was liked or disliked byreviewers. For example, the feedback can include a five star systemwhere one star indicates dissatisfaction with the product and five starsindicates a recommendation for the product. Comments of the reviewerscan be provided.

The feedback can be provided by other members of the social mediawebsite. They may be such feedback or there may be no feedback. Thefeedback can be on the social media website or can be elsewhere, such ason another website. One or more links can be provided on the socialmedia website to other websites that contain feedback. According to anembodiment, no feedback can be provided or the user can skip viewing anyfeedback that is provided.

The user can select “Buy Now” for the product, such as on the socialmedia website, as shown in step 205. Selecting Buy Now can initiate apurchase transaction for the user to purchase the product. The user canpurchase the product from within the social media website. That is, theuser is not required to leave the social media website and/or visit themerchant's website to purchase the product. The social media website,the payment provider, and/or the merchant can cooperate to facilitatethe purchase process. Any other desired entity, e.g., a credit cardcompany, bank, payment processor, can also cooperate to facilitate thepurchase process.

The user can perform a checkout process from within the social mediawebsite, as shown in step 206. The checkout process can be a standardcheckout process that is similar to that performed from the merchant'swebsite. For example, the user can specify how many units of the productare to be purchased, where and how the product is to be shipped, and howto pay for the product. The checkout process can be performed entirelyfrom within the social media website. Alternatively, the checkoutprocess can be performed partially within the social media website andpartially outside of the social media website. For example, the socialmedia website server 100 can control and coordinate the checkout processusing various other, different websites and/or servers.

The purchase transaction can be processed, as shown in step 207. Thepurchase transaction can be processed by the social media website (e.g.,by the social media server 100), by the payment provider (e.g., by thepayment provider server 130), and/or by the merchant website (e.g., bythe merchant server 110). The purchase transaction can be processed byany suitable entity or device.

The product can be shipped to the user, as shown in step 208. Theproduct can be shipped to the user by a method specified by the userduring the checkout process. The product can be shipped to the user byany desired method. Once the product has been marked as “shipped” to thebuyer on the social media platform, the buyer is then allowed to leavefeedback (such as rating the item on a certain scale) regarding thatparticular item (which can be marked as purchased by the buyer). Thisfeedback can be displayed to all who view that item on the social mediaplatform.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing further detail of the method forproviding a social media marketplace, according to an embodiment. One ormore memories can store information of a social media website, as shownin step 301. The one or more memories can comprise the memory 102 of thesocial media website server 100, for example. The one or more memoriescan comprise the memory 111 of the merchant website 110, the memory 132of the payment provider server 130, the memory 122 of the user device120, and/or any other memory or memories. The one or more memories cancomprise any suitable memory or combination of memories.

One or more hardware processors can be in communication with the one ormore memories and can be operable to receive a first communication froma first user device to the social media website indicative that a firstuser likes a product of a merchant, as shown in step 302. The one ormore hardware processors can comprise the processor 101 of the socialmedia website server 100, for example. The one or more hardwareprocessors can comprise the processor 112 of the merchant website 110,the processor 131 of the payment provider server 130, the processor 121of the user device 120, and/or any other processor or processors. Theone or more hardware processors can comprise any suitable hardwareprocessor or combination of hardware processors.

The one or more hardware processors can store a like for the product inthe one or more memories, as shown in step 303. The like can be storedin the memory 103 or any other suitable memory. The one or more hardwareprocessors can display the like for the product on the social mediawebsite, as shown in step 304. Thus, the like can be viewed by the user,by other users or social media website members, and/or by others.

The one or more hardware processors can receive a second communicationfrom a second user device to the social media website indicative that asecond user desires to purchase the product from the merchant, as shownin step 305. The one or more hardware processors can process a purchasetransaction for the user to purchase the product from the merchant, asshown in step 306. The purchase can be made with a check, credit card,bank card, a gift card, payment provider, a payment token, or any otherpayment means.

Once the purchase transaction has been completed, the product can beshipped to the user, as shown in step 307. Such shipping can berequested and performed according to any desired method.

In implementation of the various embodiments, embodiments of theinvention may comprise a personal computing device, such as a personalcomputer, laptop, PDA, cellular phone or other personal computing orcommunication devices. The payment provider system may comprise anetwork computing device, such as a server or a plurality of servers,computers, or processors, combined to define a computer system ornetwork to provide the payment services provided by a payment providersystem.

In this regard, a computer system may include a bus or othercommunication mechanism for communicating information, whichinterconnects subsystems and components, such as a processing component(e.g., processor, micro-controller, digital signal processor (DSP),etc.), a system memory component (e.g., RAM), a static storage component(e.g., ROM), a disk drive component (e.g., magnetic or optical), anetwork interface component (e.g., modem or Ethernet card), a displaycomponent (e.g., CRT or LCD), an input component (e.g., keyboard orkeypad), and/or cursor control component (e.g., mouse or trackball). Inone embodiment, a disk drive component may comprise a database havingone or more disk drive components.

The computer system may perform specific operations by processor andexecuting one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained ina system memory component. Such instructions may be read into the systemmemory component from another computer readable medium, such as staticstorage component or disk drive component. In other embodiments,hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of or in combination withsoftware instructions to implement the invention.

Payment processing can be through known methods, such as transactiondetails being communicated to the payment provider through the app, thepayment provider processing the details, which may include user accountand identifier information and authentication, merchant information, andtransaction details. The user account may be accessed to determine ifany restrictions or limitations may prevent the transaction from beingapproved. If approved, the payment provider may send a notification tothe merchant and/or the user.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a computer system 400 suitable forimplementing one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. Invarious implementations, the PIN pad and/or merchant terminal maycomprise a computing device (e.g., a personal computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet, PDA, Bluetooth device, etc.) capable of communicatingwith the network. The merchant and/or payment provider may utilize anetwork computing device (e.g., a network server) capable ofcommunicating with the network. It should be appreciated that each ofthe devices utilized by users, merchants, and payment providers may beimplemented as computer system 400 in a manner as follows.

Computer system 400 includes a bus 402 or other communication mechanismfor communicating information data, signals, and information betweenvarious components of computer system 400. Components include aninput/output (I/O) component 404 that processes a user action, such asselecting keys from a keypad/keyboard, selecting one or more buttons orlinks, etc., and sends a corresponding signal to bus 402. I/O component404 may also include an output component, such as a display 411 and acursor control 413 (such as a keyboard, keypad, mouse, etc.). Anoptional audio input/output component 405 may also be included to allowa user to use voice for inputting information by converting audiosignals. Audio I/O component 405 may allow the user to hear audio. Atransceiver or network interface 406 transmits and receives signalsbetween computer system 400 and other devices, such as a user device, amerchant server, or a payment provider server via network 460. In oneembodiment, the transmission is wireless, although other transmissionmediums and methods may also be suitable. A processor 412, which can bea micro-controller, digital signal processor (DSP), or other processingcomponent, processes these various signals, such as for display oncomputer system 400 or transmission to other devices via a communicationlink 418. Processor 412 may also control transmission of information,such as cookies or IP addresses, to other devices.

Components of computer system 400 also include a system memory component414 (e.g., RAM), a static storage component 416 (e.g., ROM), and/or adisk drive 417. Computer system 400 performs specific operations byprocessor 412 and other components by executing one or more sequences ofinstructions contained in system memory component 414. Logic may beencoded in a computer readable medium, which may refer to any mediumthat participates in providing instructions to processor 412 forexecution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limitedto, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Invarious implementations, non-volatile media includes optical or magneticdisks, volatile media includes dynamic memory, such as system memorycomponent 414, and transmission media includes coaxial cables, copperwire, and fiber optics, including wires that comprise bus 402. In oneembodiment, the logic is encoded in non-transitory computer readablemedium. In one example, transmission media may take the form of acousticor light waves, such as those generated during radio wave, optical, andinfrared data communications.

Some common forms of computer readable and executable media include, forexample, floppy disk, flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any othermagnetic medium, CD-ROM, any other optical medium, punch cards, papertape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, RAM, ROM,E2PROM, FLASH-EPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, carrier wave,or any other medium from which a computer is adapted to read.

In various embodiments, execution of instruction sequences forpracticing the invention may be performed by a computer system. Invarious other embodiments, a plurality of computer systems coupled by acommunication link (e.g., LAN, WLAN, PTSN, or various other wired orwireless networks) may perform instruction sequences to practice theinvention in coordination with one another. Modules described herein canbe embodied in one or more computer readable media or be incommunication with one or more processors to execute or process thesteps described herein.

A computer system may transmit and receive messages, data, informationand instructions, including one or more programs (i.e., applicationcode) through a communication link and a communication interface.Received program code may be executed by a processor as received and/orstored in a disk drive component or some other non-volatile storagecomponent for execution.

Where applicable, various embodiments provided by the present disclosuremay be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations of hardwareand software. Also, where applicable, the various hardware componentsand/or software components set forth herein may be combined intocomposite components comprising software, hardware, and/or both withoutdeparting from the spirit of the present disclosure. Where applicable,the various hardware components and/or software components set forthherein may be separated into sub-components comprising software,hardware, or both without departing from the scope of the presentdisclosure. In addition, where applicable, it is contemplated thatsoftware components may be implemented as hardware components andvice-versa—for example, a virtual Secure Element (vSE) implementation ora logical hardware implementation.

Software, in accordance with the present disclosure, such as programcode and/or data, may be stored on one or more computer readable andexecutable mediums. It is also contemplated that software identifiedherein may be implemented using one or more general purpose or specificpurpose computers and/or computer systems, networked and/or otherwise.Where applicable, the ordering of various steps described herein may bechanged, combined into composite steps, and/or separated into sub-stepsto provide features described herein.

As used herein, the term “store” can include any business or place ofbusiness. The store can be a brick and mortar store or an online store.The store can be any person or entity that sells a product.

As used herein, the term “product” can include any item or service.Thus, the term “product” can refer to physical products, digital goods,services, or anything for which a user can make a payment, includingcharitable donations. A product can be anything that can be sold.Examples of products include cellular telephones, concerts, meals, hotelrooms, automotive repair, haircuts, digital music, and books. Theproduct can be a single item or a plurality of items. For example, theproduct can be a tube of toothpaste, a box of laundry detergent, threeshirts, and a donut.

As used herein, the term “merchant” can include any seller of products.The term merchant can include a store. The products can be sold from astore or in any other manner.

As used herein, the term “mobile device” can include any portableelectronic device that can facilitate data communications, such as via acellular network and/or the Internet. Examples of mobile devices includecellular telephones, smart phones, tablet computers, and laptopcomputers.

As used herein, the term “network” can include one or more local areanetworks (LANs) such as business networks, one or more wide areanetworks (WANs) such as the Internet, one or more cellular telephonenetworks, or any other type or combination of electronic or opticalnetworks.

As used herein, the term “card” can refer to any card or other devicethat can be used to make a purchase in place of cash. For example, thecard can be a bank card, credit card, debit card, gift card, or otherdevice. The card can be a token, such as a hardware token or a softwaretoken. The card can be stored in and/or displayed upon a user device,such as a cellular telephone.

As used herein, the term “app” can include any application, software, orprogram that can be run on any device such a desktop computer, a mobilecomputer, a smart telephone, or the like.

As user herein, the term “like” can be defined as information associatedwith one of the users liking a product. Thus, a “like” can indicateapproval of or desire for a product.

The social media marketplace can extend to the whole world wide web.That is, any merchant on the world wide web can participate. Thus,product for such merchants can be liked and/or purchased via the socialmedia marketplace disclosed herein. Trust for seller among potentialbuyer can be enhanced via feedback. Feedback can provide a means foridentifying and eliminating fraudulent and otherwise undesirablesellers. Little or no change to existing payment provider infrastructureis required.

The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the present inventionto the precise forms or particular fields of use disclosed. It iscontemplated that various alternate embodiments and/or modifications tothe present invention, whether explicitly described or implied herein,are possible in light of the disclosure. Having thus described variousexample embodiments of the disclosure, persons of ordinary skill in theart will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. Thus, the invention islimited only by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a non-transitory memory; andone or more hardware processors coupled to the non-transitory memory andconfigured to read instructions from the non-transitory memory to causethe system to perform operations comprising: determining that a firstcommunication received from a first user device of a first userindicates that the first user has utilized an electronic link of asocial media website provided on a website of a merchant to like aproduct displayed on the website of the merchant; storing informationassociated with the first user liking the product; displaying theinformation associated with the first user liking the product of themerchant on the social media website; determining that a secondcommunication received from a second user device of a second userindicates that the second user desires to purchase the product from themerchant, wherein the second communication is initiated by the seconduser from within the social media website to purchase the product; andin response to the second communication, processing a purchasetransaction for the second user to purchase the product from themerchant by coordinating the purchase transaction with a merchant serverof the merchant on behalf of the second user within the social mediawebsite without directing the second user away from the social mediawebsite.
 2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the firstcommunication is provided via an app of the first user device.
 3. Thesystem as recited in claim 1, wherein the social media website providesa feature that facilitates purchase of the product by the user fromwithin the social media website.
 4. The system as recited in claim 1,wherein the first communication includes information regarding theproduct and the information is provided by the website of the merchant.5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first communicationincludes information regarding the product and the information isobtained from an email of the merchant.
 6. The system as recited inclaim 1, wherein the first user device and the second user device arethe same user device.
 7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein thefirst user and the second user are the same user.
 8. The system asrecited in claim 1, wherein the one or more hardware processors and thenon-transitory memory are processors and a memory of a server.
 9. Thesystem as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more hardwareprocessors and the non-transitory memory are processors and a memory ofa payment processor.
 10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein theone or more hardware processors and the non-transitory memory areprocessors and a memory of a server of the social media website.
 11. Amethod comprising: determining, electronically by one or more hardwareprocessors, that a first electronic communication received from a firstuser device of a first user indicates that the first user has utilizedan electronic link of a social media website provided on a website of amerchant to like a product of the merchant displayed on the website ofthe merchant; storing, electronically via the one or more hardwareprocessors, information associated with the first user liking theproduct in one or more hardware memories; displaying, electronically viathe one or more hardware processors, the information associated with thefirst user liking the product on the social media website; determining,electronically by the one or more hardware processors, a secondelectronic communication received from a second user device of a seconduser indicates that the second user desires to purchase the product fromthe merchant, wherein the second communication is initiated by thesecond user from within the social media website to purchase theproduct; and in response to the second electronic communication,processing, electronically via the one or more hardware processors, apurchase transaction for the second user to purchase the product fromthe merchant by coordinating the purchase transaction with a merchantserver of the merchant on behalf of the second user within the socialmedia website without directing the second user away from the socialmedia website.
 12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the firstelectronic communication is provided via an app of the first userdevice.
 13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprisingproviding a feature that facilitates purchase of the product by the userfrom within the social media website.
 14. The method as recited in claim11, wherein the first electronic communication includes informationregarding the product and the information is provided by the website ofthe merchant.
 15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the firstelectronic communication includes information regarding the product andthe information is obtained from an email of the merchant.
 16. Themethod as recited in claim 11, wherein the first user device and thesecond user device are the same user device.
 17. The method as recitedin claim 11, wherein the first user and the second user are the sameuser.
 18. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the one or morehardware processors and the one or more hardware memories are processorsand memories of a payment processor.
 19. The method as recited in claim11, wherein the one or more hardware processors and the one or morehardware memories are processors and memories of a server of the socialmedia website.
 20. A non-transitory machine-readable medium havingstored thereon machine-readable instructions executable to cause amachine to perform operations comprising: determining that a firstelectronic communication received from a first user device of a firstuser indicates that the first user has utilized an electronic link of asocial media website provided on a website of a merchant to like aproduct of the merchant displayed on the website of the merchant;storing information associated with the first user liking the product;displaying the information associated with the first user liking theproduct on the social media website; determining that a secondelectronic communication received from a second user device of a seconduser indicates that the second user desires to purchase the product fromthe merchant, wherein the second communication is initiated by thesecond user from within the social media website to purchase theproduct; in response to the second electronic communication, processinga purchase transaction for the second user to purchase the product fromthe merchant by coordinating the purchase transaction with a merchantserver of the merchant on behalf of the second user within the socialmedia website without directing the second user from the social mediawebsite; and displaying a rating left by a purchaser of the product toall those who can view the item on a social media platform.